BAGUIO CITY – The City Prosecutor’s Office reported a high disposition rate of cases filed with the said office for the first three quarters of the year, including undisposed cases carried over to the current year from last year.
Assistant City Prosecutor Margarita Manalo disclosed that there were some 3 cases that were carried over to the current year which was in addition to the 1,546 cases that were filed during the first three quarters of the year, thus, the number of cases for disposal reached 1,549 cases.
Of the filed and carried over cases, she added that of the 1,195 cases were filed with the different courts in the city, 450 cases were dismissed and 4 are still pending resolution by the assigned investigating prosecutors with the disposition rate of the office on cases for regular filing reaching 99.73 percent.
On the other hand, Manalo reported there were 382 cases subjected to inquest proceedings by the assigned inquest prosecutors during the first three quarters of the year.
Additionally, she said 367 cases were filed in the different courts while 15 cases were dismissed resulting to a 100 percent disposition rate of the cases that were subject to inquest proceedings.
The assistant city prosecutor claimed 132 motions for reconsideration were filed during the said period and all said motions were resolved by the review panel established for such purpose, thus, the city prosecutor’s office to achieve a 100-percent disposition rate in this aspect of their assigned task.
Manalo revealed estafa topped the various cases filed with the office totaling 480 cases followed by other cases with 400 and violation of the Anti-Bouncing Check Law with 361 cases.
The City Prosecutor’s Office is assigned to conduct preliminary investigations or summary hearings on the various cases being filed with said office to ascertain whether or not the said cases have probable cause that will warrant the filing of the same to the different courts in the city.
Under existing rules and regulations, assigned city prosecutors are given at least 60 days to resolve the cases that are being filed by complainants.
Complainants of cases that are dismissed can still file motion for reconsideration wherein the assailed resolution will be reviewed by a 3-man review panel composed of senior prosecutors, excluding the investigating prosecutors who dismissed the said cases.
Further, complainants not be satisfied by the decision of the review panel when their motions for reconsideration are denied can still file the necessary petition for review with the Regional State Prosecutor or even up to the justice department depending on the prevailing circumstances of their cases, among other reasons.
Manalo assured complainants and defendants of cases filed with the city prosecutor’s office that assigned prosecutors decide the dismissal or filing of the cases based on the presented pieces of evidence and testimonies of witnesses of the involved parties. By Dexter A. See
